There are basically three types of eggs in Finland: eggs, free ranged eggs and organic eggs. All of these egg types are produced under different circumstances, of which this article strives to make sense. The manner of production is marked on the egg itself in numbers as follows: 0 Luomumuna – ”organic egg” 1 Ulkokanalamuna – ”free-ranged egg” 2 Lattiamuna – “egg from a floor based chicken house” 3 Virikehäkkimuna “egg from a modified chicken house”(*) (*) modifications made mandatory by the EU in all of Europe in 2012.
Underneath each category you can see a picture of the type of chicken house the eggs come from.
0 Luomumunat – Organic eggs Organic eggs are produced in floor based chicken houses, in which the chickens are allowed to live freely. Floor based means that instead of being locked in cages, the chickens can walk on the floor, peck and socialize as they please. They lay their eggs in nests, rest on perches and stay outside from June to October, as is ordered by law. Of course, the chickens are also fed with organic fodder. There are less chickens per squaremeter than in more traditional egg production. Organic eggs can be recognized from the “ Sun Label” as is shown above.
1 Ulkokanalamunat – free ranged eggs Free ranged eggs in Finland are produced in floor based chicken houses that include “a pasture” for the chickens to walk in during the day. According to the law, free-range chickens can only be “locked” inside for 12 weeks in a year due to weather. Free-ranged eggs that have been approved by Evira (the Food Agency in Finland) have “ulkokanojen munia” written on the carton.
2 Lattiamunat – eggs from a floor based chicken house These eggs come from chicken houses that are floor based, i.e. there are no cages. Rather, the chickens lay their eggs in nests and have the facilities to rest on perches, walk on dirt and socialize. On the carton reads either “lattiakanalasta”, “lattiakanojen munia” or the more commercial options such as “free chicken’s eggs” or even “happy chicken’s eggs”.
3 Virikehäkkimunat – eggs from a modified chicken house These are a very common type of eggs in Finland. The chickens live in cages inside the hen house, but they have nests among other things. The EU approved a law that made modifications to the cages of chicken houses mandatory in all of Europe in 2012. In Finland, eggs that come from this type of chicken houses are commercially called either “orsikanalan munia” or “virkku”. Most likely one of these terms will be written on the egg carton.
Different types of eggs in a store.
(https://twitter.com/hashtag/virikemuna)
There are basically three types of eggs in Finland: eggs, free ranged eggs and organic eggs. All of these egg types are produced under different circumstances, of which this article strives to make sense. The manner of production is marked on the egg itself in numbers as follows:
0 Luomumuna – ”organic egg”
1 Ulkokanalamuna – ”free-ranged egg”
2 Lattiamuna – “egg from a floor based chicken house”
3 Virikehäkkimuna “egg from a modified chicken house”(*)
(*) modifications made mandatory by the EU in all of Europe in 2012.
Underneath each category you can see a picture of the type of chicken house the eggs come from.
0 Luomumunat – Organic eggs
Organic eggs are produced in floor based chicken houses, in which the chickens are allowed to live freely. Floor based means that instead of being locked in cages, the chickens can walk on the floor, peck and socialize as they please. They lay their eggs in nests, rest on perches and stay outside from June to October, as is ordered by law. Of course, the chickens are also fed with organic fodder. There are less chickens per squaremeter than in more traditional egg production.
Organic eggs can be recognized from the “ Sun Label” as is shown above.
Organic chicken house
(http://www.ruokatieto.fi/ruokakasvatus/opettajien-materiaali/perusopetus/luomua-eri-luokille/luomuun-liittyvat-tehtavat)
1 Ulkokanalamunat – free ranged eggs
Free ranged eggs in Finland are produced in floor based chicken houses that include “a pasture” for the chickens to walk in during the day. According to the law, free-range chickens can only be “locked” inside for 12 weeks in a year due to weather. Free-ranged eggs that have been approved by Evira (the Food Agency in Finland) have “ulkokanojen munia” written on the carton.
Free ranged chicken house
(http://www.kanatieto.fi/suomen-kanalat/kanalatyypit)
2 Lattiamunat – eggs from a floor based chicken house
These eggs come from chicken houses that are floor based, i.e. there are no cages. Rather, the chickens lay their eggs in nests and have the facilities to rest on perches, walk on dirt and socialize. On the carton reads either “lattiakanalasta”, “lattiakanojen munia” or the more commercial options such as “free chicken’s eggs” or even “happy chicken’s eggs”.
Floor based chicken house
(http://www.kanatieto.fi/suomen-kanalat/kanalatyypit)
3 Virikehäkkimunat – eggs from a modified chicken house
These are a very common type of eggs in Finland. The chickens live in cages inside the hen house, but they have nests among other things. The EU approved a law that made modifications to the cages of chicken houses mandatory in all of Europe in 2012. In Finland, eggs that come from this type of chicken houses are commercially called either “orsikanalan munia” or “virkku”. Most likely one of these terms will be written on the egg carton.
Modified chicken house
(http://www.kanatieto.fi/suomen-kanalat/kanalatyypit)
Source: http://www.siipi.net/index.php/kananmunatiedotus/valitse-muna/351-tuotantotapa